New bridge at Burnpur

Union Minister for Fertilisers Chemicals and Steel, Ram Vilas Paswan, flagged off work for a new road bridge over the river Damodar at Burnpur that will connect Burnpur in Burdwan district and Madhukonda in Purulia district of West Bengal.

The construction of the bridge is being funded by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore.

The proposed 720-metre-long all-weather road bridge will provide better connectivity for the entire area under the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority, in which SAIL's IISCO Steel Plant (ISP) is located, with Ranchi, the capital of neighbouring state Jharkhand.

ISP, which was merged with SAIL two years ago, was presently in the midst of a modernisation and expansion programme. Paswan assured that ISP would meet its modernisation and expansion deadline of 2010.

The recently-revived Kulti Steel Works was likely to commence production by August 2008. The revival of ISP and Kulti Steel Works was part of SAIL's Rs 20,000 crore modernisation and expansion plan for its units in West Bengal.

Paswan requested the West Bengal government to extend sales tax waiver for ISP beyond March 31, 2008, since the plant's net worth was still negative.

Paswan expressed concern over SAIL's projects in Jharkhand owing to the delay in settlement of Chiria iron ore mines in favour of SAIL.

Members of Parliament Basudeb Acharia and Bangsagopal Choudhury, SAIL Director (Personnel) Ganatantra Ojha and ISP Managing Director S P Rao were present at the ceremony.